System and method for advertising

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for advertising. In one arrangement, the system and method pertain to receiving data to be printed via a network, configuring the data for printing on a print medium, printing the data on the print medium, and printing advertising material on the print medium in addition to the data to be printed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a system and method foradvertising. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a system andmethod for advertising via a wide area network such as the Internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Recently, many new devices have been introduced in the marketthat are capable of connection to the Internet without the need ofanother device such as a personal computer (PC). Normally, users of suchdevices pay Internet service providers (ISPs) for access to theInternet. For instance, users of handheld devices such as personaldigital assistants (PDAs) and mobile telephones can obtain limitedaccess to information on the Internet if the users pay a monthly servicefee. It is currently expected that such access will soon be extended toother network-enabled devices such as multifunction peripheral (MFP)devices and other such network-enabled appliances.

[0003] Where a user has a PC and one or more other network-enableddevices, the user may need to pay several separate access fees to obtainInternet access with each of the devices. The reason for this typicallyis due to the fact that different ISPs provide access for the differentdevices. Although it would be possible for a single ISP to extend accessfor all of a user's devices (e.g., a PC as well as other network-enableddevices) in exchange for a single all-inclusive access fee, ISPs thatprovide service to PC users are reluctant to serve the network-enableddevice market in that it is more difficult to generate collateralrevenue in this market. Specifically, due to the limitations of thenetwork-enabled devices, it is difficult to present the user with thirdparty advertising materials. Additionally, many owners ofnetwork-enabled devices are hesitant to access the Internet with thesedevices in that they often do not wish to pay separate fees beyond thosealready paid for PC access to the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that it would bedesirable to have a system and method for advertising in relation toaccess of the Internet with network-enabled devices.

[0005] The present disclosure provides such a system and method. In onearrangement, the system and method pertain to receiving data to beprinted via a network, configuring the data for printing on a printmedium, printing the data on the print medium, and printing advertisingmaterial on the print medium in addition to the data to be printed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The invention can be better understood with reference to thefollowing drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarilyto scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating theprinciples of the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example system for advertisingaccording to the teachings of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a network server shown in FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of network-enabled devices shown inFIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates a first example mode ofoperation of an advertising module shown in FIG. 2 according to thepresent invention.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates a second example mode ofoperation of the advertising module shown in FIG. 2 according to thepresent invention.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a flow diagram that illustrates operation of anadvertising display module shown in FIG. 3 according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which likenumerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG.1 illustrates an example system 100 for advertising. As indicated inthis figure, the system 100 generally comprises a network server 102 andone or more network-enabled devices 104. The network-enabled devices 104can take many different forms. By way of example, these devices 104 canbe configured as a computer such as a personal computer (PC) 106 or apersonal digital assistant (PDA) 114. Alternatively, the devices 104 canbe configured as a network appliance such as a multi-functionalperipheral (MFP) device 108, a digital camera 110 (still or video), adigital picture frame 112, etc. As will be apparent from this disclosurewhen taken as a whole, the nature of the network-enabled devices 104 isnot critical to the invention. Indeed, as will be understood from thediscussion that follows, the network-enabled devices 104 can comprisesubstantially any device or appliance that is capable of connecting to anetwork and which may include some form of user interface (e.g.,display) with which advertisements can be communicated to the user.

[0014] As is further indicated in FIG. 1, each of the network server 102and the network-enabled devices 104 is connected to a network 116. Thenetwork 116 can comprise one or more sub-networks that arecommunicatively coupled to each other. By way of example, these networkscan include one or more local area networks (LANs) and/or wide areanetworks (WANs). Typically, however, the network 104 comprises a set ofnetworks that forms part of the Internet. The system 100 furthercomprises printers 118 that, as indicated in FIG. 1, are connected tothe network server 102. Although direct connection to the printers 118is depicted in FIG. 1, it is to be understood that the connection can beindirect and, for instance, facilitated by a further network (notshown). Moreover, although the system 100 is depicted as including theseprinters 118, it will be appreciated from this disclosure that theseprinters are optional and therefore not necessary to the disclosedinvention. When provided, the printers preferably comprise highresolution printers that are adapted to print photograph quality prints,typically on high quality photograph paper.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an example architecturefor the network server 102 shown in FIG. 1. As indicated in FIG. 2, thenetwork server 102 can comprise a processing device 200, memory 202, oneor more device interface elements 204, one or more network interfacedevices 206, and a local interface 208 to which each of the othercomponents electrically connects. The local interface 208 may haveadditional elements, which are omitted for simplicity, such ascontrollers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers toenable communications. Furthermore, the local interface 208 may includeaddress, control, and/or data connections to enable appropriatecommunications among the aforementioned components.

[0016] The processing device 200 can include any custom made orcommercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU) or anauxiliary processor among several processors associated with the networkserver 102, a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of amicrochip), or a macroprocessor. The memory 202 can include any one of acombination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory(RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, etc.)) and nonvolatile memory elements (e.g.,ROM, hard drive, tape, CDROM, etc.).

[0017] The one or more device interface elements 204 typically comprisethe hardware used to electrically connect the network server 102 withanother device, such as a printer 118, so that data can be sent andreceived between the server and the other device. Therefore, by way ofexample, the device interface elements 204 can comprise one or moreexternal buses and/or communication ports. Although such interfaceelements 204 are normally provided, it is to be appreciated that theyare not necessary where the network server 102 communicates with theprinters 118 through a further network. The one or more networkinterface devices 206 comprise the hardware with which the networkserver 102 transmits and receives information over the network 116, andprinter network where provided. By way of example, the network interfacedevices 206 include components that communicate both inputs and outputs,for instance, a modulator/demodulator (e.g., modem), a radio frequency(RF) or other transceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router,etc.

[0018] The memory 202 comprises various software programs including anoperating system 210, a print service module 212, advertising module214, and a communications module 216. The operating system 210 controlsthe execution of other software, such as the advertising module 214, andprovides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management,memory management, and communication control and related services. Theprint service module 212 can comprise one or more applications (e.g.,executable programs) that facilitate the operation of a network-basedprinting service as well as any printer drivers needed to communicatewith the printers 118.

[0019] The advertising module 214 preferably comprises software thatenables the distribution of advertising material to users of thenetwork-based service. For example, as discussed in greater detail belowwith reference to FIGS. 4-5, the advertising module 214 can beconfigured to facilitate the printing of advertising material onhardcopy prints (i.e., printer printouts) to be distributed to a userand/or transmit advertising material for display on a network-enableddevice 104 operated by the user. The communications module 216, inconjunction with the network interface devices 206, facilitates networkcommunications for the network server 102. In addition to theaforementioned software, the memory 202 typically comprises a database218 that can be used to store advertising material that will bedistributed to the user in some manner.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an example architecturefor the network-enabled devices 104 shown in FIG. 1. As identifiedabove, the particular nature of each network-enabled device 104 can varyfrom device to device. Generally speaking, however, each network-enableddevice 104 typically comprises a processing device 300, memory 302, oneor more user interface devices 304, a display 306, and one or morenetwork interface devices 308. Each of these components is connected toa local interface 310 that, by way of example, comprises one or moreinternal buses. The processing device 300 is adapted to execute commandsstored in memory 302 and can comprise a general-purpose processor, amicroprocessor, one or more application-specific integrated circuits(ASICs), a plurality of suitably configured digital logic gates, andother well-known electrical configurations comprised of discreteelements both individually and in various combinations to coordinate theoverall operation of the network-enabled device 104.

[0021] The one or more user interface devices 304 typically compriseinterface tools with which the device settings can be changed andthrough which the user can communicate commands to the network-enableddevice 104. By way of example, where the network-enabled device 104comprises a PC, these interface devices 304 may comprise a keyboard andmouse. Where the network-enabled device 104 comprises a peripheraldevice or appliance (e.g., MFP device), the user interface devices 304can comprise one or more function keys with which the operation of thenetwork-enabled device 104 can be controlled. Where the network-enableddevice comprises a PDA, the user interface devices 304 may furtherinclude a touch-sensitive screen.

[0022] Irrespective of the precise nature of the network-enabled device104, the display 306 is adapted to communicate graphical information tothe user, such as advertising material, and can comprise a monitor,liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) display, orsubstantially any other type of display screen with which informationcan be communicated to the user. The one or more network interfacedevices 308 are adapted to facilitate connection to the network 116 and,like the network interface devices 206, can include components thatcommunicate both inputs and outputs, for instance, amodulator/demodulator (e.g., modem), a radio frequency (RF) or othertransceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, etc.

[0023] The memory 302 includes various software and/or firmware programsincluding an operating system 312, an operations module 314, anadvertising display module 318, and a communications module 318. Theoperating system 312 contains the various commands used to control thegeneral operation of the network-enabled device 104. The operationsmodule 314 comprises software and/or firmware that includes variousapplications that are adapted to satisfy various intendedfunctionalities appurtenant to the network 116 for which thenetwork-enabled device 104 is configured. For example, the operationsmodule 314 can include a browser application that is used to access thenetwork 116, a transmission (e.g., email or facsimile) application thatis used to transmit data to a desired destination via the network, anupload application that is used to upload images to the network, adownload application that is used to download images from the network,etc. The advertising display module 316 is used to facilitate thedisplay of advertising materials to the user on the display 306. Theoperation of the advertising module 316 is described below withreference to FIG. 6. The communications module 318 is configured to, inconjunction with the network interface devices 308, enablecommunications via the network 116. In addition, the memory 302 caninclude a database 320 which is used to, at least temporarily, storedata (e.g., advertising material) within the network-enabled device 104.

[0024] Various software and/or firmware programs have been describedherein. It is to be understood that these programs can be stored on anycomputer readable medium for use by or in connection with any computerrelated system or method. In the context of this document, a computerreadable medium is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physicaldevice or means that can contain or store a computer program for use byor in connection with a computer related system or method. Theseprograms can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by orin connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that can fetch the instructions from the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. Inthe context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be anymeans that can store, communicate, propagate, or transport the programfor use by or in connection with the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

[0025] The computer readable medium can be, for example but not limitedto, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. Morespecific examples (a nonexhaustive list) of the computer-readable mediuminclude an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portablecomputer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, orFlash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-onlymemory (CDROM). Note that the computer-readable medium can even be paperor another suitable medium upon which a program is printed, as theprogram can be electronically captured, via for instance opticalscanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted orotherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then storedin a computer memory.

[0026]FIG. 4 illustrates a first example mode of operation for theadvertising module 214 of the network server 102. As indicated in block400, the advertising module 214 is first initiated. By way of example,the advertising module 214 can comprise an application that operates inthe background of printing services provided over the network 116. Asidentified above, the printing service, when provided, typicallypertains to the printing of high quality images on high qualityphotograph paper. In such an arrangement, the network server 102 can beowned and operated by a printing service provider that receives digitalimages or documents from users (i.e., customers) via the network 116 andprints high quality hardcopies (i.e., prints) of the images for theusers in exchange for a fee.

[0027] As indicated in block 402, once the advertising module 214 hasbeen initiated the module awaits a print job request. The print jobrequest can be generated in various ways. For example, the print jobrequest can be generated by the user by uploading digital images to aweb site operated by the service provider and placing an order forprints. Alternatively, the print job request can be generated by theservice provider after a user order has been received. In any case, oncesuch a request is made, flow continues to block 404 at which theadvertising module 214 detects the print job request. Although theadvertising module 214 is described herein as detecting the print jobrequest, persons having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate thatthe advertising module can, alternatively, be configured for manualoperation in which a service provider administrator manually activatesthe advertising module 214 when a print job is to be performed.

[0028] Next, flow continues to decision element 406 at which theadvertising module 214 determines whether advertising material is to beprovided to the user. This determination can be made with respect tovarious factors. For instance, whether the user is to be provided withadvertising material can depend upon the service plan the user has withthe service provider (if any), the amount of money the user has agreedto pay for the prints, demographic information concerning the user, etc.If advertising materials are not to be provided to the user for aparticular print job, flow can return to block 402 at which point theadvertising module 402 again awaits a print job request.

[0029] If, on the other hand, the user is to be provided withadvertising material, flow continues to block 408 at which theadvertising module 214 determines which advertising material is to beprovided to the user. Again, this determination can depend upon severaldifferent factors such as demographic information concerning the user,the number of prints that the user has ordered, the number of duplicatecopies the user has ordered, etc. Alternatively, the advertisingmaterial to be presented to the user can be selected by default, forexample, one particular advertisement can be used for all print jobscompleted during a particular week.

[0030] Generally speaking, the nature of the advertising material canwidely vary. For instance, the advertising material can comprisediscount offers on services (e.g., printing services) the serviceprovider offers, advertising for products the service provider sells,discounts and/or advertising related to products and/or services thirdparties provide, and so forth. Irrespective of the particular nature ofthe advertising material, the service provider presumably derives somebenefit from the advertising materials whether it be direct, e.g.,revenue obtained from the third party for advertising its productsand/or services, or indirect, e.g., interest generated for productsand/or services the service provider offers.

[0031] Once the nature of the advertising material has been determined,flow continues to block 410 at which the placement of the advertisingmaterial can be determined. Normally, the advertising is printed on thereverse side of the prints so as not to detract from the aesthetics ofthe printed image or document. Therefore, the advertising module 214 canbe configured such that the advertising material is provided on thereverse of one or more prints by default. Alternatively, however, wherespace is available on the front side of a print, e.g., in a blank borderthat surrounds an image, the advertising material can be placed on thefront side of the print. When the advertising material is provided onthe front side, the customer preferably can remove the advertisingmaterial by simply cropping the print in a manner that does notadversely affect the appearance of the print.

[0032] At this point, the advertising module 214 can initiate theadvertising material print process, as indicated in block 412. This stepcan entail associating particular advertising material stored in thedatabase 218 with one or more of the individual images and/or documentsto be printed and sending this information, along with the designatedlocation of the advertising material, to the print service module 212,which controls the printing process. Alternatively, this step can entailmerely providing an indication to the print service module 212 thatadvertising material is to be added to the a particular print job. Inany case, the printing of the advertising material can be controlled bythe print service module 212 and facilitated by the printers 118 suchthat advertising material is added to one or more of the prints of theprint job. Once the print job is completed, the prints, and thereforethe associated advertising material, can be provided to the user by, forinstance, mailing them to the user.

[0033] Advertising materials can be provided to the customer in otherways. FIG. 5 illustrates a second example mode of operation for theadvertising module 214 in which the advertising material is transmittedto the customer for display on the customer's network-enabled device104. As indicated in block 500, the advertising module 214 is againfirst initiated. Once initiated, the advertising module 214 can awaitconnection of a network-enabled device 104, as indicated in block 502,to the network server 102 or to another device on the network 116. Inthe latter case, the other device can be configured to alert theadvertising module 214 that such connection has been made. By way ofexample, the connection (to either the network server 104 or otherdevice) can result from a user accessing a particular web site with thePC 106, the user uploading one or more images from the digital camera110 to an image repository, the retrieval of images by the digitalpicture frame 112 for viewing, the retrieval of information from theInternet with the PDA 114, etc. Once the connection has been made, theadvertising module 214 can detect this connection, as indicated in block504 and, as indicated in decision element 506, determine whetheradvertising material is to be provided to the user.

[0034] Again, the determination as to whether advertising material is tobe provided can be made with respect to various factors such as thosenoted above with respect to the first example mode of operation. Ifadvertising material is not to be provided to the user, flow can returnto block 502 at which the advertising module 214 again awaits a deviceconnection. If, on the other hand, the user is to be provided withadvertising material, flow continues to block 508 at which theadvertising module 214 determines which advertising material is to beprovided to the user. Again, this material can, optionally, be selectedby default. Once the nature of the advertising material has beendetermined, flow continues to block 510 at which the advertisingmaterial can be configured for display on the network-enabled device104. The nature of the configuration depends upon how the advertisingmaterial is to be displayed to the user. For instance, the advertisingmaterial can be configured for display to the user on a “splash” screenthat is shown on the display 306 when the device 104 first boots.Alternatively, the advertising material can be displayed to the userwhen the device 104 is working, for instance while data is beingtransmitted from or to the device. The configuration of the advertisingmaterial may further depend upon the nature of the network-enableddevice 104. For instance, where the device 104 comprises a digitalpicture frame, the advertising material can be configured as a slidethat is to be presented to the user in a slide show shown to the userwith the frame. Persons having ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat many other display options exist.

[0035] At this point, the advertising module 214 can facilitatetransmission of the advertising material, as indicated in block 512,along with any related display commands. Once the advertising materialis transmitted, it can be stored and/or displayed on the network-enableddevice 104. FIG. 6 illustrates an example mode of operation of theadvertising display module 316. As indicated in block 600 of thisfigure, the advertising display module 316 receives the advertisingmaterial and any commands associated with its display. Depending uponthese commands, and therefore the manner in which the advertisingmaterial is to be presented to the user, the display module 316 can, asindicated in decision element 602, determine whether the advertisingmaterial is to be immediately displayed (e.g., as streaming graphicaldata) to the user or stored for later display to the user. If theadvertising material is to be immediately displayed, flow continues downto block 606 and the advertising material is displayed to the user bythe advertising display module 214 with the display 306. If theadvertising material is to be displayed to the user at another time,however, flow continues to block 604 at which the material is stored forlater use until, as indicated in block 606, it is time to display theadvertising material. At this point, flow is, at least temporarily,terminated. Where the advertising material is stored, the advertisingmaterial can be configured for recurring display to the user. Forinstance, the advertising material can be displayed in response to aparticular stimulus (e.g., booting of the device) until such time whenit is replaced by new advertising material that is received when thenetwork-enabled device 104 again is connected to the network 116.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for advertising, comprising the stepsof: receiving digital image data to be printed for a client with anetwork server; configuring the digital image data for printing on aprint medium; printing the digital image data on the print medium;printing advertising material on the print medium in addition to thedigital image data; and providing the print medium to the client.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the digital image data was transmitted to thenetwork server via the Internet.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theadvertising material is printed on a reverse side of the print medium.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertising material is printed ona front side of the print medium.
 5. A system for advertising,comprising: means for receiving digital image data from a client via anetwork; means for configuring the digital image data for printing on aprint medium; means for printing the digital image data on the printmedium; and means for printing advertising material on the print mediumin addition to the digital image data.
 6. The system of claim 5, whereinthe means for printing advertising material are configured for printingthe advertising material on a reverse side of the print medium.
 7. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein the means for printing advertising materialare configured for printing the advertising material on a front side ofthe print medium.
 8. A method for advertising, comprising the steps of:detecting connection of a network-enabled appliance to a network; andtransmitting advertising material to the appliance via the network fordisplay to a user of the network-enabled appliance in a display of theappliance.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the network comprises theInternet.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the advertising materialcomprises graphical advertising material.
 11. The method of claim 8,further comprising transmitting commands as to manner in which theadvertising material is to be displayed.
 12. The method of claim 8,wherein the network-enabled appliance comprises a digital camera. 13.The method of claim 8, wherein the network-enabled appliance comprises adigital picture frame.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein thenetwork-enabled appliance comprises a multifunction peripheral (MFP)device.
 15. A method for advertising, comprising the steps of:retrieving third party advertising materials; receiving imaging datafrom a customer via the Internet; configuring the imaging data forprinting on a print medium; printing the imaging data and third partyadvertising material on the print medium; and providing the printedprint medium to the customer.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising collecting an advertising fee from the third party.